@mrmacabre Good NEWS is there might be hope! I am a case in point. 30 YEARS I suffered. Another 30 YEARS I watched my aunt and grandmother suffer!!! Turns out no one paid attention. I demanded attention. Went to the BEST Arthritis doctors at UCSD for years... a rheumatologist with the military and a gazillion other doctors, etc....
it was the GOUT!!! There are 3 types: OA, RA and Gout. Dumb #@$% missed the gout... even though I went to the hospital with Gout flares 23 years ago... at age 42 (I am 68 now) because of the family history and most of all because my XRAYS show me LOADED with OA - the lazy #$%! said it was OA. When I complained too much I would get tested for RA. Its soooooo simple: a uric acid level test. I HAD TO ASK FOR IT. In this group someone mentioned ZAZZEE Tart Cherry Capsules and OVERNIGHT my hands stopped being stiff and aching. Overnight I stopped getting whole body inflammation after a little yard work and weather changes. I've posted in this group at extensive length about this UNBELIEVABLE MISS by the doctors for 30 years. If you can search by name maybe you can find some of those posts. Here's the thing. OA is a degenerative condition -- but WHAT CAUSES IT TO BE PAINFUL? That is the question needing to be answered. My initial pain (I figured this all out last fall) was controlled by the Zazzee but my dad was on Allopurinol so I asked to be put on that. My doctor is great at listening to me. So she did. On the tart cherry capsules I was in range but high in uric acid, on the allopurinol I am totally NORMAL. I tested on Friday. I never understood why farmed salmon was considered inflammatory -- ate it and saw no difference between sockeye pacific wild salmon --- but NOW I DO! Had a piece in the freezer I cooked up - every night I wake with pain in my hands. Its the inflammation from it raising my uric acid. So I keep the Zazzee around and pop one of those, and go back to sleep with pain disappearing.
The weather changes do me in - but now I can very much identify the arthritis - OA - in my larger bones like my neck and no pain in my hands/wrists. I am an artist and depend on my hands. No, don't ever give up just take matters into your own hands. Good luck!!!!
I have neuropathies and radiculopathies as a result of spine degeneration. That is another animal. I can control that better if I reduce sugar - another inflammatory trigger. Exercise and the MFR therapist is a must. Learning about my body A MUST. My own unique body needs. A one size fits all doctor is not the answer. Must use your intuition! Must push! Must advocate, prepare and ask questions!!! (required) My doctor says how she admires my preparation. I thought I was her biggest pain in the you-know-what! But I make it easier for her to direct me.